[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 44 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E426]]
                      TRIBUTE TO MARGO WELS JESKE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to Margo 
Wels Jeske, a great American who exemplifies all that is special about 
our Nation of hard-working, visionary business leaders. Margo has 
followed a path that all of us in this chamber should strive to 
emulate--she cares about people first.
  Well before the age of computers, in 1966, when jet travel was still 
rare and gas was 35 cents per gallon, a young woman named Margo Wels 
from Nicollet, Minnesota, joined the North American Life and Casualty 
Company as a cashier in its New Ulm office.
  Margo served North American Life and Casualty and its successor 
company, Allianz Life, for 42 outstanding years. She held a series of 
important positions, including Executive Assistant to the President and 
other key company officials. Margo retired in early February.
  Today, we salute Margo Wels Jeske for her leadership and hard work in 
protecting people and families and helping our area keep and develop 
good jobs.
  Madam Speaker, we all know from our experience in Congress the 
importance of people like Margo. They have tremendous institutional 
knowledge, mentor younger workers and help bring order to the lives of 
the people with whom they work.
  Throughout her entire career at Allianz Life, Margo earned the 
deepest respect and affection of the thousands of people with whom she 
came in contact. Her humor, personal kindness and professionalism made 
her a crucial part of the company.
  We live in a time when connections between people are not as strong 
as they were in the past. But when we examine the life of Margo, we 
recognize the real importance of those connections. We are worse off 
for the lack of the personal touch. To thrive, all institutions need 
committed people, and no one exemplifies this better than Margo Jeske.
  Every season of life has its own unique pleasures and Margo has 
decided it is time to retire, travel and do other things that she 
enjoys.
  Madam Speaker, I want to commend Margo for her successful career and 
extend my best wishes to her and Wayne and their son, Eric, for health 
and happiness in the years ahead. America salutes Margo and all our 
citizens like her who bring a caring and committed attitude to the job 
each and every day.
  I hope that each of us in the U.S. Congress seek to serve our 
constituents with the same dedication shown by Margo Wels Jeske each 
and every day.

                          ____________________